Fastener



Aug. 14, 1945. SUMMERS 2,382,518

FASTENER Filed Nov. 7, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mmm m! 1 U Q 45 66 50 65 4g ..1. l lul H 51 \/I/I,\L

(I BY 'z :5: I 62 a 52 9 4 I IITTORNEYS I Patented Aug. 14, 1945.

FASTENER J Mills Summers, Englewood', N. 1., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Camloc Fastener Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New vYork Application November 7, 1941, Serial No. 418,127

This invention relates to a new and improved fastening device suitable for use wherever it is desirable to draw together the members to be fastened and then retain them in such relative position by a positive lock; all operations being performed by a single normal movement.

The usual bolt and nut assembly depends upon friction to retain its clamping action. The substitution of a so-called lock nut only increases the friction. In neither case is there a retention by any positive and automatic lock.

Heretofore, all screw thread fastening devices employing a positive retention against unfastening have required separate and conscious operation or operations to accomplish the desired purpose. pin through a hole in the bolt engaging the near- For example, the introduction of a cotterest casteilated nut locking position has been resorted to. in this latter example, the location of the hole in the bolt and the length of the prongs on the castellated nut limit the applica- The material of the cotter-pin must pert sending to retain it in position and it may too soft for use Where extreme vibration is to i types of application, for example where the safety factor is of exirnportance, a positive locking function out separate conscious effort is most imnt and is found to be inherent in an imoved fastening device of the present invention.

desirable that access fasteners or fasteners instrument and accessory mounting be 1e so-called quick operating type, i. e., they must function to fasten or unfasten with a single eration. with or without operating tools, and U116 locked position be retained against uniastening by a positive means not subject to viational loosening. The absence of such a cture has heretofore limited quick operating wlii junction with warped or distorted surfaces and which will draw them into contact with 21ers to devices which carry all or a portion the: ohject is that of providing a fastener one another and maintain them in such contact throughout the period that the fastener remains in closed position.

Another object is that of providing a fastener 01 this type which is self-locking in character and when once in its fastened position, cannot be moved without first being unlocked.

A further object is that of providing a. device of this type which is caused both to Operate and lock by means of a single normal movement on the part of the operator.

- A still further object is that of providing a fastener of the type which can be readily manufactured by automatic machinery and which will function over long periods of time with freedom from mechanical difliculties.

' With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheets of drawings illustrating practical embodiments of the invention, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of a fastener assembly in locked condition; this view also illus trating the end portion of an assembly-manipulating tool;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the tool associated with the assembly and with the parts of the latter in unlocked condition;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the lines 33 and in the direction of the arrows as indicated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top view of the assembled fastener shown in the preceding views;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the stud assembly of the fastener previously illustrated;

Figs. 6 and 7 are transverse sectional views taken along the lines 6-6 and ?'i respectively and in the direction of the arrows as indicated in Fig.1;

Iig. 8 is a sectional side view similar to Fig. 1 but showing an. alternative form of construction;

Fig. 9 is a view again similar to Fig. l but showing a still further form of fastener assembly;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary cross section of the grommet portion of a stud assembly embodying my invention; and

Fig. 11 is a further side elevation in cross section of the fragment of the grommet shown in Fig. 16, but showing a modified form of assembly flange.

Referring now primarily to Figs. 1 through. "1,

plate for an access area or inspection point within the fuselage or on the wing surfaces of the ship. As will be noted. both of these sheets of material have been prepared with openings i4 and II respectively and which preferably are 5 countersunk at least for a portion of the distance through the sheets. In the opening in the lower sheet, there is positioned a collar member l2 formed with a shoulder |1 adjacent its upper edge and an upwardly depending flange |2 which is adapted to be turned outwardly by means of a suitable die, after the collar has been brought in position in the opening l4. Accordingly, the

flange 2 grips against the countersunk portion of the opening l4, and holds the collar fixed against a movement on the lower sheet with theshoulder |1 bearing against the under surface of said sheet. The collar isalso'formed with inwardly extending opposed lug members l2 and 22 which are formed in the shape of segments of opposed internal screw threads on the inner surface of said collar.

Cooperating with the opening II in the upper sheet, is a grommet member 2| formed with a shoulder 22 adjacent its upper edge and an upwardly extending flange 22, which latter flange is turned outwardly into engagement with the countersunk portion of the opening II in the sheet I2. This holds the grommet fixed against movement in the sheet; the shoulder 22 hearing against the undersurface of said sheet. grommet 2| preferably has a tapered inner surface 24 and an opening 22 below this surface and extending through the grommet. Positioned within this opening is a stud 22 which has a tapered head 21 complementary in character to the inner tapered wall 24 of the'grommet 2| and in contact therewith.

The body of the stud 22 is preferably hollow as shown at 22 to accommodate the coil spring shown at 22 directly beneath the head portion 21. The stud is formed with opposed vertically extending slots 22 and 2|. A cross bar 22 with an overall length substantially in excess of the diameter of the stud 22 is positioned so that it rides in the openings 22 and 2|. This bar is formed with a downwardly extending central portion or knob 22 and' an opposed depression 24, the latter being positioned directly beneath a central opening 22 formed in the stud head. This opening may. for example, be slotted or formed to accommodate a tool of the Phillips or "Reed and Prince type or modifications thereof, the

top of which is shown at 22. These types of Thelugsor thread segments i2 and 22. The lower end of the stud 22 may be hanged outwardly at 44 to hold the member 4| in position and fixed against movement on the stud. Also as shown the stud may have a second inwardly extending flange 44' to assist in positioning and retaining the disc 21. The overall length of the member 4| is such that its upper end is adjacent the lower edge of the grommet 2| and the member 4| has recesses 42 and 42 registering with the openings 12): arid 2| in the stud 22 and accommodating the r However, in utilizing the assembly of the stud and threaded member as illustrated and described, there is the added advantage of being able, by forcing the member 4| upwardly on the stud 22, to bring the former to a position of rest in contact with, or immediately adjacent the lower face of the grommet 2|, thus preventing further axial movement of the stud and threaded member with respect to the grommet.

In operation, the collar member I2 is secured to the lower sheet l2 and the stud assembly and grommet 2| are connected to the upper sheet |2,

. both in themanner heretofore described. In this connection it will be noted that the spring 22 pressing on the undersurface of the cross bar 22 forces the latter upwardly and into position in the slots 22 and 22 on the underside of the grommet 2|, thus locking the parts as the cross bar serves to hold the stud and its head 21 from relative rotation with respect to the grommet 2|. The knob or extended portion 22 on the cross bar 22, tends to center the latter with respect a to the coil spring 22 and prevents the cross bar from working sidewise out of the slots 22 and 2| in the stud. Upon insertion of the tool 22, into the stud head opening 22, the tip 41 of the tool engages the surfaces of depression 24 in the top of the cross bar. Inasmuch as said surfaces are complementary, a further projection of the tool 22 downwardly into the head opening causes a lowering of the cross bar 22 against compression of the spring 22, and causes this bar to ride downwardly in the slots 22 and 2| of the stud.

The parts are so proportioned .that when the tool 22 is "at home in the stud head, the cross bar 22 has been sufliciently depressed to clear the lower extremes of the grommet 2| and is entirely free of the slots 22 and 22. Thereafter, the stud 22 and its head 21 together with the threaded member 4| may be rotatedat wil1 with respect, to the grommet 2|. Accordingly, rotation of the stud will result in engagement of the threads 42 and 42 of the member 4| with the thread se ments or lug members I2 and 22 of the collar i2, and the advancement of the threaded member 4| downwardly with respect to said collar. As the member 4| moves axially with respect to the so collar II, it carries with it the stud 22, grommet radially about the undersurface of the grommet and may be so spaced that the intervening walls 42, 42' etc.. taper inwardly to form points as illustrated. The bar 22 is of an overall length such that it extends into and comes to rest within the slot portions 22 and 22 or 22' and 22' etc.; its sire and dimensions being such that they form a relatively close fit when in said slots.

Associated with the outer surface of the stud 22 is a threaded member 4| preferably having a 2| and the plate or sheet |2 to which the latter is secured. Such advancement continues until the plate |2 abuts the plate I4 at which time further advancement of the threads 42 and 42 along thread segments l2 and 22 will be prevented. At that point the tool 22 is removed and the cross bar 22 thus released is projected upwardly into the slots 22 and 22 by means of the spring pressure of the coil spring 22 locking the parts in position and preventing any further relative movement. It thereafter becomes impossible to separate the fastener or the sheets II or H until once again a tool has been inserted in the stud head and the cross bar unlocked. If by chance the double thread 42 and 42 for cooperation with the 12 cross bar 22 is not aligned with the slots 22 and 39 at the time that the tool 36 is removed, it may be .msible that the cross bar 52 will come to rest on. the walls it and #329; if this should occur any slight strain on the sheets transmitted through the threads of the fastenei will rotate the parts suificiently to cause proper alignment between the cross bar and the slots and. a resultant projection of the former in the latter.

it will be observed in the construction Just clescribed, that all of the strain of both lateral and transverse character is absorbed. by the fastener elements and not by the spring 29, the latter serving merely to project the bar 32 into position in slots and so of the grommet and maintar' the some in said position. In addition, the cation of double thread. portions in the fast tensidesign precludes the possibility of eccentric loading of the parts during longitudinal stress. In this connection, it will be noted that a single th. ed design might, when subjected to longitucli stress, telte the load ofi-cehter with respect to center or the fastener, thus inducing a bending movement from direct tension that would tend to detract from the emciency and usefulness of the fastener. On the other hand, applicents spreads the load; oi longitudinal stress evenly over ooth threads, each positioned euui clistent from the center line of the fastener. one. avoids any ou -center or eccentric pull on the parts. Thus, in its locked position, the fastener becomes unit of great rigidity and. strength and its action on the sheets in bringing the same together is positive in character. As the threaded member (it is rotated, any warpage or deformity of the sheet 63 must be overcome and the some mode to conform to the contour of the sheet it to which it is being secured.

Turning now to Fig. 8, there are shown sheets of material 38 end cs that are designed to be secured to one another by a fastener of the same general type described in connection with the preceding views. The grommet member is shown at end the collar member at E. The latter has opposed internal thread segments 52 and it which cooperate with the double thread cc and. 55 of the member 56 which in turn is secured to the stud ill by means of the outwardly turned flange es as has also been described in connection with the preceding figures of the drawings. A spring so is positioned within the hollow center of the stud and is secured in place, for example, by means of a friction disc or plug to which is positioned in the bottom of the stud bore. In addition, the stud. may be flanged inwardly as at 58' to further assist in holding the disc to in position. A cross bar (it having a knob 82 projecting downwardly from its central portion e2:- tencls laterally through the stud and beyond the opposed slots ti; and. 8 3 formed in said stud. The cross bar cooperates with slots so and. be formed in the lower face of the grommet, in the manner heretofore described in connection with the preceding views. The upper portion of the stud 5? may be, for example, formed in the shape of a hexagon member and has a plunger 58 extending through its center; the letter having a flang or head 239 at its lower edge. The flange 9% engages the upper face of the cross bar ti and in operation a socket wrench having a design such that will cause it to engage the upper end of the plunger so is placed over the hexagon nut El, and depresses the latter causing the fiauge so to bear upon the cross bar iii and to urge the same clownwardly and out of engagement with the slots E35 and 6G in the grommet 5t. Thereafter, the stud assembly will be unlocked with respect to the grommet and the iast-ener may be rotated so that the sheets it and it may either be separated from one another or drawn together.

In Fig. 9 there is shown a iuither modification in which sheets Bil and it are both provided with openings in which the grommet member it and a collar iii are respectively flanged or other wise secured, said collar member having a dzubie thread including segments 5 's and it which in turn cooperate with a clouble thread embracing portion '55 and ll of e, niembsr iii carries; by the stud it all as has been heretofore described in connection with earlier modifications. A ticn fit disc closes the lower one. or said alter a spring 32 has been inserted therein; the lower end of the stud iii being 5 cl outwardly at 84 to hold the member -si on as well as inwardly at El to help secui iii A cross bar $3 i positlonecl transvei Q61 ,1 of said stuzi and extends through the opposes slot portions and 86 to cooperate with. serrations in radially extending grooves 8i and 638 of t grommet Likewise, the cross bar has a. downwardly ciopending knob 3 3 which centers the some with re spect to the spring 52 and prevents sidewise movement with respect thereto. The upper one of the stud l9 has an outwardlyfiarezi heed with a square central opening in which is positioned a square shank 9c of wing nut 92 the head of which, for example, may be secured to the shank by means of a rivet The lower encl of the shank 99 has a flange it? which cooperates with the upper surface of the cross bar 83.

In operating the fastener Just described, tummg the wing nut M will not permit o, relative movement of the stud it: wit respect to the grommet 12 until the wing nut has been pushed downwardly and the cross bar unlocked from the slots 8? and 88 of the grommet. Under such conditions the wing nut and. stud assembly will rotate together, carrying with them the member l8 and permitting a threading or uhthreading of the collar and the sheet it from the sheet it.

In Fig. 10 there is shown a sheet of material 9% which has been couhterbored and countersunk at 96. A grommet is shown in position in the opening and with an upwardly extending flange 91 adapted. to be flared outwardly into position in said counterbored opening Q6 for securing the parts. The shoulder 9% of the grommet 95 bears against the unclersurface of the sheet and prevents displacement upwardly.

Fig. 11 shows an alternate way of securing the fastener members to the sheets. There is shown a sheet 988 which is counterbored and countersunk at i632, and, a, grommet 9% having a shoulder 13 conforming in contour to the counterbore tilt is postioned in said counmubored, countersunk opening. The grommet also has a, downwardly depending flange 502 for outward flaring against the under-surface of the sheet lilil, thus securing the parts. In certain installations it is ale-- sirable to have the greatest strength against a downward pull of the fastener part, and the type of joint shown in Fig. 11 might, under such circumstances, be preferable.

It is of course apparent that in the construction of fasteners built in accordance with the foregoing invention, numerous changes in design and rearrangements of the parts might be resorted to without in the least departing from the spirit of my invention. To the same end, any operating tools can be utilized that afiorcl contact with the locking means during normal operation of the fastener.

I claim:

1. In a fastener of the type having a screw threaded stud in which the threads engage with a mating receptacle, a stud assembly and locking means comprising a rotatable stud member provided with a head having a manipulating slot, a mounting grommet member encircling the same and adapted to be fixedly secured to a structure, locking means carried by one of said members and locking means carried by the other of the same, whereby both of said locking means cooperate for locking said rotatable member against movement with respect to said grommet member, and actuating means positioned within said head slot and operatively connected with one of said locking means, whereby said locking means may be actuated upon manipulation of said actuating means.

2. In a fastener having a receptacle and a rotatable stud for cooperative engagement therewith, a stud assembly and locking means comprising a rotatable stud member provided with a manipulating head, said head adapted to be disposed on the upperside of a mounting structure, a mounting grommet member encircling the stud and adapted to be fixedly secured to said structure, said mounting member being formed with recesses on its lower face to be positioned on the underside of the said structure, movable locking means carried by said stud member on the underside of said structure and cooperating with said mounting member recesses for locking said rotatable member against movement with respect to said mounting member, urging means for maintaining said locking means in engage.- ment with said mounting member recesses, and means to move said locking means from locked position coincident with engagement of said rotatable member to efiect the rotation thereof and to resume its locked position upon the release of said member.

3. In a fastener having a receptacle and 9. rtatable stud for engagement therewith, a stud assembly and locking means comprising a rotatable stud formed with a body portion and head, a central bore in said body portion, an opening in said head communicating with said bore, opposed vertical slots in the wall of said bore, a cross bar carried by said stud body and projecting through said slots and underlying said opening, sprin means disposed in said bore below said bar and urging the latter towards said head, a mounting member for said stud and adapted to be fixedly secured to a sheet of material, said member formed with bar engaging recesses in its lower face for cooperation with said resiliently rotation thereby permitted.

4. A locking means for a fastener stud comprising a mounting grommet member for said stud, adapted to be mounted in a sheet of material. said member provided on its face to be positioned on the underside oi. said sheet with engaging recesses, a stud rotatably mounted within said mounting member, said stud comprising a manipulating head to be positioned on the upperside of said sheet and having a tool engaging opening and a body portion provided with a central bore, opposed vertical slots in the wall of said bore, a cross bar extending through said bore and body slots and axially movable therein, said bar adapted to engage said recesses, a resilient member disposed within said bore and acting against said bar and normally urging said bar into said recesses and means provided in said head, and acted upon by the tool used to rotate said stud to disengage said bar from said slots, thereby to permit rotation of said stud.

5. A device as in claim 2, wherein the movable locking means is a transverse cross bar axially movable on said stud.

6. A device as in claim 2, wherein the urging means for maintaining said locking means in engagement with said mounting member recesses is a coil spring in a bore provided in the rotatable stud member.

7. A device as provided in claim 2, wherein the means to move said locking means from locked position coincident with engagement of said rotatable member, is a tool receiving recess provided in the manipulating head and communicating with and overlying the movable looking means, whereby an operating tool received in said recess engages the locking means and moves it axially against the urging means to unlocked position.

8. A device as in claim 2, wherein the means to move said locking means from locked position comprises a plunger axially slidable in a bore provided in said stud, with one end of said plunger extending into said manipulating head and the other end of said plunger contacting said locking means, whereby axial movement of said plunger is imparted to said locking means for moving said locking means against said urging means and into unlocked position, disengaged from said recesses.

J MILLS SUMMERS. 

